Safety device for swimmers and like uses.



F. W. TAYLOR.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SWHVIIVIERS AND LIKE USES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 6| 1915.

".0 l 9 1 2 1 Pm 6 D d 6 t n B lu a P intended for the use of swimmers as an aid pended claims.

the device Lt W. "BATTER, UT UIECEHM, ILLINOIS.

SAFETY DEVICE JE'QR SWIMMERS AND LIKE USES.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee. t2, tfltfl.

Application filed August re, 191%. serial No. M316.

5 of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Swimmers and like Uses; and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel emergency safety device for use by swimmers adapted to be attached to a bathing suit or other article of apparel or to be incorporated in and constitute part of the apparel and so constructed as to occupy but little space when inert, and to be automatically expanded to provide a light fioatable body having a large displacement that will assist the wearer to remain on the surface of the water for a considerable time in case of accident or emergency of a nature to deprive the swimmer of his normal powers to remain afloat, and also to maintain a nonswimmer afloat in a like emergency.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a device of this character that is extremely light, compact and which requires but little space upon or in the apparel and which may be instantly expanded. in case of emergency to assist-the wearer to float upon the Water pending the arrival of aid.

The device herein shown, while primarily to enable the swimmer to float when attacked by cramps in the water or when under the influence of an overpowering undertow,may

also be used as a general emergency device for persons in Water crafts in case of accident which result in throwing the passengers into the water and thereby enable them to float until assistance arrives, Whether or 45 not they are able to swim.

The invention consists in the constructionand arrangement of the parts shown in the drawings, described in the specification and the invention is set forth in the ap- Tn the drawings, Figure 1 is a partial side elevation and partial section of an emergency device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a view Similar to Fig. 1 showing expanded. One embodiment of the emergency or life saving device made in accordance with my invention embraces an inner inflatable and deflatable bag 10, a container 11 within the bag which is normally closed by a cork or other closure 12 and an exterior sheath 13 which surrounds the inner bag. The said sheath 13 may be made of rubber or other like elastic material and is provided with an opening or mouth through which the inner bag is adapted to be inserted, said mouth being closed by a tying string 14. When the device is to be attached to the apparel such attachment may be readily efl'ected by means of a clasp pin 15 attached in any suitable manner to the tying string 14.

As herein shown the open end of the container 11 is made somewhat flaring and the closure is tapered to fit the flaring mouth of the container and may be sealed therein by a coating of paraflin or like sealing material between the closure and the container mouth to render the joint fluid proof. Said closure fits within the mouth of the inner bag 10 and may be attached thereto in any suitable manner to prevent the escape of gas from the bag. As herein shown the said closure is provided exterior to the container with an annular groove and the wall of the mouth of the inner bag is attached to the closure to produce a gas tight joint by a cord or strand 16 which is tied about the mouth of the bag in a manner to force the wall of the bag mouth into said groove. The cord or strand 16 extends outwardly through the closed mouth of the outer sheath a suiiicient distance to enable it to be grasped for the purpose of removing the closure from the container.

In the use of the device the container 11 is partially filled with. a material which, when brought into contact witha material in the inner bag and exterior to the container, sets up a reaction to release a gas which expands the inner bag, the sheath expanding with the inner bag, as best shown outwardly. The material of the inner inflatable and deflatable bag lies loosely around the container and the wall thereof about the mouth and will yield relatively to the container to permit the closure to be withdrawn. When this is done the device is usually tipped, or may be tipped, to an angle to cause the fluid to escape from the container into the inner bag. When the contents of the container come into contact with the contents of the inner bag gas is released which expands the bag and causes the same to rise upwardly by flotation. When the device is anchored to the bathing suit by the clasp pin 15 and the cord 14 the rising of the inflatable bag will further invert the container so that the entire contents thereof are discharged upon the powder within the bag and the expansion of the bag is completed. If the device be embodied in a bathing suit or like article of apparel, it may be arranged with the closed end of the container downwardly or to be otherwise suitably manipulated so as to insure the discharge of the solution from the container into the inner bag and in contact with the powder or other material therein.

After each use of the device the closure is removed from the bag 10, as by untying the cord 16, as the parts are herein shown as arranged, and the container is thereafter removed and the bag cleansed. Thereafter, a charged container is inserted within the bag and a charge of the reacting material is placed within the bag outside the container. The bag and the container are then closed by the stopper or closure 12 and the device is ready for use.

I have found in practice that a device of this character which occupies but little space when deflated will expand upon the reaction of the materials to a size to support from twenty to twenty five pounds in weight, which is ample to sustain a person in the water, even though a non-swimmer or incapacitated to swim, until assistance arrives.

The inner bag is preferably made of a material which has little or no elasticity and is made sufficiently strong and tough so to withstand considerable internal pressure. It is made of material that is thin and readily foldable about the container in the normal condition of the device, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer sheath is preferably made of a thin rubber or like elastic, water proof material which will accommodate itself 'to the expanded bag.

While the embodiment of the invention herein shown is practical, economical, compact and efficient, it will be understood that the details of said embodiment may be varied within the spirit and scope of the invention. For instance, other means may be employed for removing the closure from the container or for releasing the contents of the container into the bag. Moreover, such release of the container contents will be arranged as found most convenient when the device is embodied in an article of apparel, and the form thereof may be varied to adapt it to such apparel. In some instances means may be provided to hold the closure in the container mouth in addition to the interfitting connection shown and adapted to be -o"ercome by a pull on the cord or strand 16 before the closure is released. This may be efi'ected by one or more loops so applied over the container and connected to the closure and adapted to be stretched or broken when pull is exerted on the strand 16. As shown in the drawings the cord or strand 16 is attached to the attaching cord 14 of'the inclosing sheath whereby the closure may be released by simply grasping the device and pulling it away from its point of attachment to the garment.

It will be understood that it is the intent to claim all of inherent novelty shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

I claim as my invention 1. A safety device for swimmers-comprising an inflatable closed bag, a container therein to receive a reacting agent, a closure for said container, the bag having a space exterior to the container to receive a reacting agent, means to close said bag, a sheath surrounding the bag, with means to close the same and means to withdraw the closure from said container to permit the intermingling of the reacting agents in said bag to inflate the latter.

2. A safety device for swimmers comprising an inflatable and deflatable bag, a container within the bag to contain a reacting agent, a closure for the container, means to attach the mouth of the bag to the closure to provide a gas tight bag, and means to release the closure from the container.

3. A safety device for swimmers comprising an inflatable and deflatable bag, a container within the bag to contain a reacting agent, a closure for the container, the mouth of the bag encircling the closure beyond the container and means to clasp the mouth of the bag about the closure exterior to the container.

1. A safety device for swimmers comprising an inflatable and deflatable bag, a container within the bag to contain a reacting agent, a closure for the container provided beyond the container with a grooved portion which is encircled by the wall of the mouth of the bag, and a closure releasing cord drawn closely about the mouth of the bag to force the wall of the mouth into the groove closure to produce a gas tight joint.

5. A safety device for swimmers comprising an inflatable and ueflatahle bag, a container within the bag to contain a reacting agent, a closure for t e bag'and container, a sheath to inclose said bag and. rovided with a closable mouth and a stran connecteoi to agent, a closure for the bag and container,

a sheath to inclose said bag, a cord to close tit-7th the mouth of said sheath and provided with attach ng means, and means extending through the mouth of the sheath to release it said. closure.

In testimony that claim the foregoing as my invention 1[ afix my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 10th clay of August, A. D. 1915.

, FRANK W. TAYLUR. Witnesses W. L. HALL LULAH M. 'inrron. 

